The centrality of the nurse-patient relationship: A Scandinavian perspective

Lisbeth Uhrenfeldt, Erik Elgaard Sørensen, Iben Bøgh Bahnsen, Preben Ulrich Pedersen

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Abstract

Aims and objectives: To address aspects of importance in the nurse–patient relationship, as conceptualised within the Scandinavian healthcare context. Background: An experiment in Beth Israel Hospital uncovered a set of core values (ontology) that were wiped away by stronger forces. Despite this, some of the ideas impacted the development of nursing thought and values in the Scandinavian countries, partly because they connected with deeper social values and also because investment was being put into explicitly identifying and understanding the core elements of nursing (ontology) and how to provide evidence that they found were important (epistemology). From that beginning and through the work of key thought leaders, Scandinavian nursing is ready to embark on a new phase, which could be helped by the Fundamentals of Care framework. Design: This discursive position study offers insights from a public healthcare setting, influenced by values such as equal rights to equal care and/or cure. This study presents two complementing perspectives: an ontological and an epistemological, on establishing caring relationships. Conclusion: There are different pathways to follow in building person-oriented care; however, the nursing approach is both ontologically and epistemologically grounded and based on dialogue. Relevance to clinical practice: Patients meet different nurses, the meeting may be short and, routine actions may be on the agenda. However, nurses must engage with patients’ experiences and knowledge, in order to add to patients’ present and future well-being with their person-oriented care.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Clinical Nursing
Volume27
Issue number15-16
Pages (from-to)3197–3204
Number of pages8
ISSN0962-1067
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Bibliographical note

© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

  • epistemology
  • fundamentals of care
  • models of care
  • nurse–patient relationship
  • ontology
  • person-oriented care
  • public health nursing

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